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Original poster

Who pays for graduation tickets?

33 replies

560934P · 04/07/2025 14:54

Hi, my younger sister is graduating. She is expecting me to buy the tickets for my sister and I.
When you graduated, did you buy tickets for your family or did they buy their own? They are £30 each.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:
WhatsThatComing · 04/07/2025 15:05

My dd got two free tickets and then I have paid for extra ones. My dd can’t pay for a cup of tea at the moment as she hasn’t got a job yet.

HighLadyofTheNightCourt · 04/07/2025 15:07

Which university is charging £30 a ticket?
At my university all graduates get 2 free tickets. If there are extra tickets available then they are £5 each.
£30 is very steep!

makingthecut · 04/07/2025 15:09

You should buy your own ticket if you want to go or maybe your parents pay. I wouldn’t expect the (probably skint) graduate to buy your ticket.

OatFlatWhiteForMe · 04/07/2025 15:10

Either parents or those attending for extra tickets. Certainly not the one graduating.

JulesJules · 04/07/2025 15:15

We paid for graduation tickets and D1's gown hire. She was allowed two guests, this was for the actual graduation and a garden party with unlimited food and fizz in her college. She managed to sneak in her bf too, so it was excellent value.

At my university they get two free tickets and can then buy extra tickets, space permitting, but they only get one glass of fizz and a small snack.

Tarkan · 04/07/2025 15:44

I graduated with the OU last year and was something like £27 per ticket. I bought them for DH and my parents then my parents bought lunch for us in return.

I could afford it though, every situation will be different and if I couldn’t have afforded it I’d have asked my parents to pay for their tickets if necessary.

CatloverNY · 04/07/2025 15:47

We got a free ticket for our son graduating and paid for our own.
We paid for gown hire and photos.
Wouldn’t expect a sister to pay tbh.

MoreChocPls · 04/07/2025 15:51

My kids uni charges more than £30 and you just get a ticket… no freebies, not even cheap warm wine!

HeddaGarbled · 04/07/2025 15:55

I’m the mum and I happily paid for everything.

Rocknrollstar · 04/07/2025 16:21

As a parent I always paid for the tickets. When I graduated at the RFH I paid for a box so everyone had a good view.

DiscoBob · 04/07/2025 16:25

I wouldn't expect the person graduating to pay for multiple tickets for others. As they won't be working yet.

So as the parent I'd pay for me plus my other kids. If I was another adult family member then I'd pay for my own.

If the parent couldn't afford it then I'd still pay to see my siblings graduate. As long as it didn't literally leave me on the bones of my arse.

Groovee · 04/07/2025 16:28

My DD’s graduation was free.

My DS graduates next week and his was free along with 2 guest tickets. Subsequent tickets are £20 each and as DD wanted to go, she paid.

BarnacleBeasley · 04/07/2025 16:34

I did go to my sister's graduation, but I didn't have a ticket and just watched it from outside on a big screen in a marquee for people without tickets. I think my parents got free tickets to mine, but if you'd wanted an extra one you either had to pay, or maybe there wasn't space and no-one got extras, not sure. I certainly didn't expect my siblings to go to it at all, let alone pay for the privilege.

TheBewleySisters · 04/07/2025 16:51

I graduated from the University of London and was given two free tickets.

Paganpentacle · 04/07/2025 16:55

The parents....

Zippedydodah · 04/07/2025 16:58

I happily paid for the ticket and extras - mum here!

Ponderingwindow · 04/07/2025 16:58

Don’t the parents pay for the graduation celebration?

EssentialDecluttering · 04/07/2025 17:05

I can't remember but I have paid for me, DH and DD to go to DS's graduation this year, also paid for gown and photos.

mathanxiety · 04/07/2025 18:00

Irrelevant, but my kids all graduated from US universities and nobody ever had to pay for tickets though they did limit attendees (very loosely policed) if the graduation was indoors. Grads bought their own caps and gowns.

Ninkynonkpinkyponks · 04/07/2025 18:01

They should be free but if not I think the parents of the graduate pay

jaamy · 04/07/2025 20:16

DD1 is graduating in a couple of weeks. Strictly 2 free tickets per graduand. No other tickets available - paid for or otherwise. AFAIK, there are no refreshments. If the tickets had to be paid for, I would have bought them, and also an additional one for DD2 who would like to attend but is unable to because of the ticket limit. But she is a student also and has no income at present.

WhereOnEarthIsMyPlanet · 04/07/2025 20:18

The parents, normally. Most graduating students aren’t particularly flush!

Welshmonster · 04/07/2025 20:27

Don’t pay if you can’t afford it. It sucks but by time you pay for travel etc it will be a lot more. Did your sister pay when you graduated?

Northernladdette · 04/07/2025 20:31

I didn’t know you had to pay!

WinterNightStars · 04/07/2025 20:42

When my daughter graduated we paid for 4 tickets for us, sister & boyfriend. I’m about to graduate as a mature student - free ticket for graduate, guests £25 each (allowed 2 tickets initially, then more if any spare availability)